Pedestrian in Nanaimo dies after being hit by car on highway

A pedestrian died after being hit by a car on the highway in the early-morning hours Sunday in Nanaimo.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were called the old Island Highway between Oliver and Turner roads after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at about 12:50 a.m. Both northbound lanes of the highway were closed to traffic between Rutherford and Turner roads.

Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said the 38-year-old victim from Nanaimo appeared to have been attempting to retrieve something from on the road when he was struck by a vehicle.

“They were walking along the road when for unknown reasons the deceased walked into the traffic to retrieve something and was struck by a northbound car, driven by a resident of Port Alberni,” O’Brien said. “The driver and her adult passenger remained at the scene and co-operated with the investigation.”

O’Brien said police do not believe the incident was a suicide attempt.

Alcohol and drugs were ruled out for the driver.

O’Brien also noted the deceased was wearing dark grey clothing.

“He was pronounced deceased at the hospital at 6:15 a.m. that day,” O’Brien said.

The deceased has not been identified.

Police are looking for any witnesses to this incident and also to a crash on Boxwood Road that claimed a man’s life Thursday night. Anyone who witnessed or has any information about either of these two incidents is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP Municipal Traffic Unit at 250-754-2345.